Breast milk is known to have a myriad of health benefits for babies, especially for babies born early or prematurely. Baby's stomach is easier to digest breast milk than formula milk. In addition, breast milk contains growth hormones that help babies grow and become stronger. Breast milk will also help a vulnerable baby's digestion to become more perfect and help fight infection.
It doesn't stop there, the liquid, which is often dubbed 'liquid gold' because of its benefits, is proven in recent research that its usefulness can improve the function and structure of the premature baby's heart for the long term.
A gynecologist says that the benefits of breast milk for premature babies are enormous. In the short term, breast milk provides protective antibodies and aids in the production of essential gut flora. Meanwhile, in the long term, breast milk is effective in improving the structure and function of the heart. What's more, many premature babies are exposed to the risk of developing heart defects that occur in the first few months of life. These problems lead to decreased heart function later in life, smaller heart chambers, and thickening of the heart muscle.
The researchers found that compared to those born on time, premature babies were known to have poorer heart function and decreased heart volume as adults. However, if children born prematurely are always exclusively breastfed, their heart function and volume can be better than children born prematurely who are fed formula milk.
The results showed that although preterm birth definitely had an impact on delayed child development, the nutritional content of breast milk seems to be able to increase heart development. Even the best infant formula still has many shortcomings, including the lack of several growth nutritional factors, enzymes, and antibodies for infant development as all of them are fully contained in breast milk.
This remarkable finding took the experts by surprise because it was previously completely unknown that breast milk would exert any particular protective effect on the development of the baby's heart. The researchers had expected that this might be the case, but they were surprised by the size of the effect that breast milk had.
According to the findings in the study, although exclusive breastfeeding does not change the thickness of the heart wall, exclusive breastfeeding to premature babies can help them grow into adults whose heart size and function are close to the ideal adult heart born normally.
Tips for Breastfeeding for Premature Babies
Breastfeeding a premature baby can be a challenge for you, so naturally you will need more intense support or perhaps special breastfeeding consultations with your doctor. Some of the following tips may be able to help take care of your premature baby.
Spend as much time as possible with your baby, even if you or your baby aren't doing well enough. But this is actually quite important to help you increase milk production and start building a breastfeeding routine. Be patient and keep trying. At first, the baby may just lick your breast, then start doing several sucks until finally the baby has confidence to really suckle. Over time, this natural process will encourage your baby's sucking reflex and help him get used to regular feedings.
If the baby is still not ready to feed, it means that the mother needs to express breast milk to facilitate the supply of milk. Mothers are recommended to flush 8-10 times a day, including once at night. If you have obstacles to produce your own breast milk, try consulting a pediatrician. In addition, the mother can give donor breast milk to the baby, at least until the mother's milk production has been smooth. However, first make sure the breast milk donor comes from a clear source.
Mother, as much as possible give exclusive breastfeeding to the baby. Breast milk is very important, especially for premature babies and babies who are sick. Apart from that, breastfeeding has various health benefits for babies, including reducing the risk of asthma, obesity, leukemia, eczema, and ear infections.
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